Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo on Thursday announced a new tool to allow authorities to better coordinate response — including snow removal efforts and road closures — during large snowstorms.

The Snow and Ice Board, a component of the county's existing WebEOC technology, should provide a streamlined resource for highway superintendents and Public Works departments in Monroe County, Dinolfo said at a mid-morning news conference at the Monroe County Fleet Center on Paul Road.

"Those of us who live and work in Monroe County know our cold winters can bring a slew of challenges that are best faced together,” she said.

The Snow and Ice Board will collect real-time data, as highway superintendents from each community input information, such as details on road conditions, the progress of snow removal and snowfall rates.

Previously, data shared with the county was phoned in to the Office of Emergency Management, she said. Local municipalities also connected with each other by phone. This program streamlines the process and allows all highway superintendents in the county to see how others are faring with a storm.

As a result, county officials can alter snow removal plans on the go. Say, for example, Webster receives an excess of lake-effect snow and Wheatland roads are dry as a bone.

The tool is not available to the public, but is meant for internal use to coordinate snow-removal efforts, she said.

Shared details should help municipalities in the storm’s anticipated path to prepare accordingly, bringing in additional staff as needed, Dinolfo said. It will also guide the county's Office of Emergency Management regarding road closures, travel advisories and other travel restrictions.

"I’m proud of the way our community works together in response to challenging weather and I look forward to implementing this new technology to bring our winter readiness to the next level," she said.

More from Cheryl Dinolfo about new weather tool, which is part of the county's Web EOC technology. In past highest superintendents called info in to EOC and other highway supervisors did not have access to info. With new tool, they will#roc @DandCpic.twitter.com/PSARwdkgBF

Many in the Rochester region are quick to blame municipalities when a wintry commute becomes unbearable. One example: February 2016 when a heavy, steady snowfall crippled the region, trapping motorists on snow-covered highways as stalled tractor-trailers blocked most lanes on the Federick Douglass-Susan B. Anthony Bridge for hours.

Area residents complained that local officials did not adequately warn commuters and businesses of the conditions early enough. Dinfolo last year said the county reacted as quickly as it could once it had become clear that snow was falling much faster than expected.

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